English import Ten Meropa upsets Baldwin at 12-1

ARCADIA, Calif. - Ten Meropa, imported from England last fall, won for the first time on turf in his United Staes debut in Sunday's $110,050 Baldwin Stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita.

The 12-1 outsider in a field of eight, Ten Meropa overcame a bad start to run past seven rivals and win the Grade 3 race by 1 1/4 lengths.

Ridden by Tyler Baze, Ten Meropa ($27) ran about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course in 1:13.09. Sky Cape, the 2-1 favorite, finished second, 2 3/4 lengths ahead of D. Double You. Italian Rules did not finish. He was pulled up in the stretch and was walked to the stable area.

Sea of Pleasure, who set a quick pace of 21.70 and 43.70 seconds, faded through the stretch to finish seventh.

Ten Meropa is owned by A&R Stables and Class Racing Stables and trained by Ral Ayers, an assistant to Jeff Mullins who is directing the stable while Mullins serves a 20-day suspension for a medication violation.

Ten Meropa has won 2 of 6 starts and $77,220. In England last year, he won a maiden race on an all-weather track and was beaten in two appearances on turf.